Wire: 3 American Troops Killed in Southern Afghanistan

Off the Wire:

WASHINGTON, Aug. 11, 2009 -- Newswire services this morning reported that clashes with insurgents killed three American troops in southern Afghanistan, where roadside bombs also killed nine civilians, officials said Tuesday.

A Polish soldier, 22 Taliban insurgents and two Afghan soldiers also died in violence nine days ahead of the country's second-ever presidential election. A record number of U.S. and NATO troops are working to protect the country ahead of the Aug. 20 vote, which Taliban militants have vowed to disrupt, The Associated Press reported.

NATO said the Americans died in separate "hostile fire incidents." It did not disclose the exact location of the attacks. The first died of wounds suffered in an incident that occurred Saturday, another died Sunday and the third died Monday, a NATO statement said

At least 27 foreign troops, including 18 Americans, have died in August, a record pace, according to an Associated Press count. July, when 75 troops died, was the deadliest month in Afghanistan for U.S. and NATO forces since the 2001 U.S. invasion, AP said.

Forty-four Americans died in July.

(Report from newswire sources.)

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